Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy

A three-week course to teach total beginners how to write beautifully!

Tutor Rosie will teach you how to write in the modern calligraphy type and harness your own style, using loads of different mediums and surfaces. This course will help give you the confidence to use your new calligraphy skills for a wide range of uses such as wall art, gifts, decorations, wedding stationery and signage and lots more!

You’ll start by throwing out textbooks, literally! Remember at school when we learnt how to write in straight lines with each letter being the same size? We’re going to do the complete opposite!

Start by learning to write each letter in capital and lower case in the calligraphy style. Rosie will demonstrate each swirl, swoosh and flick that makes a calligraphy alphabet look impressive and you’ll practise how to give each letter its own identity before starting to join the letters up to make words – much more exciting than primary school writing we promise! Give each word flare and add embellishments to create your calligraphy’s unique look.

Once you’ve harnessed the letters and words we’ll start being really creative and think about what we’ll use them for: wedding stationery/signage, beautiful quotes or names that can be framed and turned into wall art, greetings cards, personalised decorations, small signs and much, much more. Learn how to make them look professional yet personal, using a range of drawing/writing media.

And you’ll also practise on different surfaces – paper is just the beginning! Modern calligraphy looks fabulous on wood, glass and plastic and each feels completely different.

Once you’ve finished the course you’ll be masters of your own writing and the amazing things you can create with it!

Rosie Johnson is a self-taught artist and illustrator. She specialises in modern calligraphy, hand printing, decorative homeware, digital illustration and graphic design with a sprinkle of glitter! Rosie has been teaching for a number of years now and runs her own business making all things quirky and alternative. She believes everyone has creative talent and loves proving herself right in every class she teaches.

All materials will be provided.

This course runs for three weeks on Saturday mornings 10:30am – 12:30pm, starting on Saturday 18 January and ending on 8 February 2025.

Recommended for ages 14+. Under 18s must be accompanied by a paying adult at all times.

Please ensure that you agree to our updated Terms & Conditions before booking as courses/workshops are non-refundable in some circumstances.

We aim to make all our sessions as accessible as possible and carers/PAs are very welcome – just remember to book their free place when you book your session. If you'd like to talk to us in advance of booking or attending your sessions to discuss your access needs, our Box Office team is here to help! Email arts-centre@le.ac.uk, pop in or call 0116 252 2455, open 7 days a week.

We have four blue badge parking spaces outside Attenborough Arts Centre, plus double yellow line roadside parking very close to the building for blue badge holders for up to three hours if our parking spaces are occupied.

Free parking for all customers is available after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in the University of Leicester car park next door to Attenborough Arts Centre on Lancaster Road. The closest public car park for parking at all other times is Victoria Park, 5-10 minutes walk from us (near De Montfort Hall).